ATTENTION: PLEASE READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE BEFORE YOU CONTINUE!!!!
A/N: I think the first thing in order is an apology (and explanation). I'm very sorry to all those wonderful and loyal reviewers/fans that were waiting for the next installment of our story. Lately I have been going through a lot of personal emotional turbulence after a soul mate of mine was hospitalized because of someone we all trusted. No names will be mentioned, but since she has been released, it's my duty to inform you and continue living my life as I had left it before drifting into seclusion.
I would like to thank Michelle, Godhuli, Jasmine, Missy, Vishal, Daniel, Amir, Won-Joo, Muneeza, Priya, Maddy, Kat, Liddy, Val, Vivi, Stephanie, Lauren, Jill, Lana, Heather, Sanna, Bethany, Natasha, Tatyana, Lizzie, our very own Slytherin Girl and countless others who supported me during this time. I would also like to acknowledge Slytherin Girl (again) for understanding my needs and giving me extra time to put myself back together before attempting to compose the next segment.
Anyway, a big apology and thank you to everyone. I just have one more thing to say before everybody is ready to beat me for not continuing. I truly believe that one of the most beautiful relationships in existence is that between writer and reader. The two share a common understanding of all that is shared. The author gives a piece of themselves to those who are willing to take it in and ponder the deeper meanings.
And so, I, MagicalMe, present to you a part of me inspired by all that I have ever known.
Welcome to Chapter 4 of "No More Tears, No More Sorrow".
By: Magical Me, Slytherin Girl, and Sophiebabe
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Hermione quickly buttoned the top of her robes and scurried out the common room door.
She was late.
And what's more, she was late for Potions.
A true recipe for disaster, that was.
As she wound her ways through the corridors to the dungeons, she scolded herself for running into a rather short and fast moving object.
Or person.
"Good morning, Professor Flitwick," she muttered hastily.
The small man smiled up at his prized student and adjusted his spectacles. "Ah, Miss Granger! Exactly who I was looking for!"
Oh dear.
She smiled falsely. "Oh, Professor, I'd really love to stay and chat, but I'm late for class," she explained.
Professor Flitwick waved his hand dismissively. "Nonsense! I'll be sure to take you to class. I just need a few minutes of your time!"
Well in that case…
"Now," he began while shuffling the rolls of parchment around in his bag, "I've been giving the Charm I've assigned you and Mister Malfoy some thought, and I think that it would be in everyone's best interest if we would perhaps exchange it with something with less complications."
Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "Sir, with all due respect, all my life I have been taught to never give up no matter how challenging an obstacle you approach. I strongly disagree with your decision," she said firmly.
"Gryffindor courage," he murmured softly. "Yes, well, if you really think so, then I suppose you may continue, as I'm sure the Headmaster will be pleased to know."
"And you, sir? Are you pleased or do you feel the opposite?" Hermione challenged.
He's squirming in his seat.
"I must admit, Miss Granger, I expected the latter. However, I respect your opinion and trust that you and your selected partner will work rather vigorously on this particular assignment."
Slowly, the pair began to finish the walk to her initial destination. In the middle, Hermione stopped and turned to her professor.
"Sir, I hope you understand that these are my ways and once I begin something, I have always been taught to stick with it. I did not mean to be rude or anything of that nature," she said.
Professor Flitwick smiled kindly. "I know that, Hermione. The world is in demand for people like you. We intend to be your mind's sharpener, and nothing less."
All too soon, the much-hated classroom came into view. Together, student and teacher entered the room. Hermione caught sight of her two best friends who were deeply involved in their assignment.
For fear of the Potions Master, I'll bet.
"Ah, Severus!" Flitwick exclaimed. "A word, if you please."
Professor Snape rolled his eyes, placed his hands firmly on his hips, and strode over. "What is it, Fillius?" he sighed and choked out in annoyance.
"Miss Granger here and I had some emergency business to tend to. Surely you will excuse her for lost class time?"
"Oh, the precious Head Girl?" he inquired sardonically. "Well, why didn't you say so? Surely this calls for an occasion in which I will allow the impeccable Miss Granger the privilege of using my golden cauldron!"
Flitwick's face grew sour. "No need to say things like that, Severus. If you would like, I can bring written permission from the Headmaster, that-"
"Oh, stop it," Snape snapped. "I'll let the girl by. No doubt her know-it-all knowledge contains the information necessary to concoct this particular potion."
The Charms professor smiled thinly. "Indeed. Well, carry on, then." He quickly exited through the large arched doorway.
Snape turned to Hermione and smirked. "Well, well. The Golden Girl is late to class and a passerby decides to fend for her? How positively wonderful." He chuckled to himself. "Ten points from Gryffindor and a detention. Report here straight after you've had your supper. If you arrive even a mere second after, I'll add double the duties. Now go!" he hissed.
"That damn greasy git has got 'Mione in for detention again," Ron complained at dinner that night.
"Control that nasty tongue of yours!" Ginny scolded. "After all, we must all have respect for our professors."
Ron snorted. "You sound like those Muggle columnists that give terrible advice."
She made a face at him just as Hermione seated herself beside Harry.
"What stress," she said in exasperation.
Harry looked at her with concern. "Are you alright?" he asked cautiously.
She tried her best to smile. "Oh, it's no use!" she exclaimed and began to sob.
Harry put a comforting arm around her shoulders and gently patted her back. "This too, shall pass," he whispered.
This too, shall pass.
Shortly after the meal was over, Hermione rushed down to the dungeons and was pleased to see that she had arrived exactly on time. Her forced smile was turned real as she realized that the Potions Master himself was late.
Well, well.
And suddenly, within the borders of her peripheral vision, she had struck gold. The things that had intrigued her most in the whole room were finally hers to look at.
The bookshelf.
She could already feel herself succumb to the force of literature and vaguely wondered whether the professor would mind or not. She rather hoped he wouldn't, but knew the real answer was the latter. Besides, books were something to be shared. Everyone needed to read, and not just for information.
But to get away.
She traced her fingers along the spines of the many titles, most pertaining to not only Potions, but Alchemy and a few Muggle sciences as well. She sauntered over to the right hand side in which she found literature, mostly being Muggle. Hermione found it interesting that Shakespeare graced nearly all four shelves on the right side and never knew that perhaps the Potions Master would be interested in the same subjects that William himself fancied and put on paper.
Carefully, she pulled out a rather dusty copy of The Taming of the Shrew and slowly thumbed through it. She scanned the pages and pages upon words and suddenly stopped to read it.
Hermione became so engrossed in the play that she did not hear the door carefully shut, as opposed to slam, nor did she give the Potion Master's entrance any regard.
"Miss Granger," he whispered and softly put a hand on her shoulder.
She shuddered under the touch of the callused hand and shakily looked up at her professor. "Er…Professor…I, uh-"
"No need for explanations," he said quietly. "I understand the power of literature."
Hermione searched his eyes questioningly.
Snape grinned. "I figured you would enter the room and my collection would be the first thing to catch your eye."
"So you came in late on purpose?"
"Right in one."
"Well…why didn't you just give me the books?" she asked.
He shrugged. "The beauty of it is to find it all on your own. Like the power of the written words – those phrases become engrained into our mind, heart, and soul and we feel it like we feel nothing else. Discovering the treasures yourself triggers the half of it."
She stared in wonder at his sagacity.
Professor Snape smirked. "You didn't suppose I was the same sordid Potions Master outside of the room, did you?"
Good question.
She chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. "I never really gave it much thought," she admitted.
"Indeed? Ah, well, fair enough." He walked over to his desk and began sorting through hundreds of essays.
"And, my detention, sir?" she asked timidly.
"Come, sit," he beckoned her over into the chair placed in front of his desk.
Hermione heeded his command and soon found herself seated in the plush chair.
"Now," he began, "I've had my fourth years write essays on the product of an infusion of Wolfsbane, Dragon Heartstring, Unicorn Blood, and Goblin Droppings." He waved his hand. "Needless to say, the Apothecary went into a deep state of lunacy and I was therefore unable to acquire the valuable ingredients needed to actually demonstrate the making of the potion. Which then left me no choice, but to assign an essay."
Hermione smiled. "I remember that demonstration."
He smirked. "Yes, yes. I suppose you would. Which is why I've asked you here tonight to come and help me grade these. No doubt there is no one else in this castle that would grade this as meticulously as you will, hmm?"
"I'd be more than happy to."
And so the two sat in companionable silence for quite some time. Suddenly, Hermione heard a sharp noise and looked up from her parchment to see the Potions Master leaning back in his chair with steepled fingers and feet on the desk. He looked very amused. "It's nearing midnight, Miss Granger," he reminded her.
"What!" she cried incredulously. She flew up from her seat and quickly gathered all her belongings. "Why didn't you stop me earlier?"
Snape shrugged. "You seemed rather involved in the whole process and I know better than to disturb you when you're into your work."
Does he know me, or what?
"Yes, well, I appreciate your concern. If you don't mind, Professor, it is rather late and I would like to retire for the night."
"That's quite alright, Miss Granger." She turned from him and edged her way towards the doorway, when…
"Um, Miss Granger?"
She stopped and did not bother to turn around.
"Yes, sir?"
"You know," he continued rather shyly, "if you'd ever like to return and help me, get ahead in Potions, if you have any questions, or would like to discuss anything at all, my door is open to you."
I'll keep that in mind for our Charms Project…
Hermione smiled and turned around. "Watch your invitation, Professor. I often tend to abuse the privilege."
He smirked and she turned and finally left the room.
What the hell just happened?
As Hermione delivered the password to the portrait, the door swung open and she stepped inside.
"You're in late."
She whipped around to face her embêtante roommate. "Yes, Malfoy?" she snapped angrily.
He was taken aback. "Merlin, Granger! I was just worried where you had gone!"
"I had detention with Professor Snape, as memory should serve you correctly!" she declared hotly.
"Yes, I realize that. But was it not set for after supper?"
"Indeed, Ferret Boy."
"And you are this late, because…"
"It went overboard!"
"Ah," Draco said as a grin began to spread rapidly onto his face. "Frolicking with the Potions Master, were we?"
Hermione quickly lifted up her right hand. "How dare you suggest such a thing!" she yelled and slapped him right across his pallid face.
He gingerly placed a hand on the wounded area and looked at her in disbelief. "I show some concern for the Mudblood and this is what I get?" he spat.
"Well!" she screamed. "Maybe your parents should have taught you that you don't always do things to get something out of it!" Hermione sprinted up her staircase, opened her bedroom door, stepped in, and let the door slam shut.
A/N: I, Slytherin Girl, would be putting something here, and thanks and such, but I figure, you want this chapter out now. : ) At least I would. So, thanks to all of you and we appreciate you being patient with us.~
~Slytherin Girl, Magical Me, Sophiebabe~